Benin art is directly related to the king, used to
glorify and immortalize the noble rulers. The
king (oba) employed his own guild of artisans
who lived in the same district of the city. Due to
the importance of art in extoling the temporal
power of the king, only the finest sculptors and
artists were retained.
This intriguing bronze head was probably made
as an altar piece, depicting an oba as indicated by
the crown. The facial features are very much in
the Yoruba style, and the sculptor may have
been influenced by the work of Benin's
neighbors. Another interesting feature is the
different colors of paint used to decorate the
head. Paint was introduced by the Europeans and
adapted by some African artists. The expressive
power of this sculpture is derived from its
artistry, and the long tradition of splendid Benin
bronzes. - (PF.4924)